Joyce Banda raises alarm over voter roll irregularities, calls for independent audit of MEC system

By Burnett Munthali

An audio clip circulating on social media has stirred fresh political concerns ahead of the September 16th elections, as former President Dr. Joyce Banda calls on the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to submit its voter registration system to scrutiny by independent auditors.

Dr. Banda has echoed the concerns of numerous citizens who fear that irregularities in the voter register could disenfranchise thousands of eligible Malawians.

She stressed that Malawians have a right to vote and a right to trust that the system designed to protect that vote is accurate, transparent, and beyond reproach.

According to her, there are growing reports that names of registered voters are mysteriously disappearing from the voters’ roll when people go to verify their registration details.

She warned that this issue is not merely administrative but strikes at the core of the democratic process, threatening the legitimacy of the forthcoming elections.

Joyce Banda pointed out the serious implications such anomalies could have on voter confidence, especially on the day of voting.

She described a scenario in which citizens might wake up in the early hours of the morning, full of hope and resolve to cast their votes for candidates of their choice—be it Arthur Peter Mutharika, Dalitso Kabambe, or herself—only to be turned away because their names cannot be found in the register.

Such a scenario, she said, would not only be heartbreaking but would ignite widespread anger and suspicion, undermining peace and national stability.

In her message, Banda issued a heartfelt appeal to MEC Chairperson Justice Anabelle Mtalimanja to take decisive steps to restore trust in the commission’s systems and processes.

She acknowledged that sometimes, decisions made by the chairperson may be influenced by external pressures and political manipulation.

Dr. Banda said she is not making these claims lightly but based on her extensive experience with Malawi’s electoral history.

She reminded the public and MEC officials alike that Malawi has held elections before, and the nation knows who handled those elections professionally and who failed to uphold the standard of impartiality.

The former president emphasized that Malawians have not forgotten the conduct of previous elections, particularly those that were marred by bias and poor management, which deeply frustrated the electorate.

She called on Justice Mtalimanja to resist any political interference and to uphold the principles of independence, fairness, and transparency, which are the backbone of credible electoral management.

Dr. Banda’s statement comes at a time when trust in the electoral process appears to be eroding, especially among opposition supporters and independent observers.

Her call for independent audit of the MEC’s registration system is likely to gain traction among other political stakeholders and civil society organizations.

With just months before Malawians head to the polls, the integrity of the voters’ roll is fast becoming a litmus test for MEC’s readiness and neutrality.

Whether or not MEC responds positively to these calls, the issue is now firmly in the public domain, and failure to act may lead to serious post-election consequences.

As the electoral calendar marches on, the voices demanding transparency are growing louder, and former President Joyce Banda has just added considerable weight to that chorus.